1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,519 Speaker 1: So we are apparently seeing a flu surge around the nation, 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: quite a high volume I belief of flu cases around 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: the nation. Now joining us on the line right now 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: from the Center for Disease Control coordinator Belinda Greenwood Smith, 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Belinda. 6 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 2: Good morning, Belinda. 7 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: Are we seeing a surge of flu cases around the 8 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: nation right now? 9 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 2: Yes, absolutely we are. We're seeing quite sort of steep 10 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 2: rises in notifications of flu also in the Northern Territory. 11 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,319 Speaker 2: So we've seen since the first of April over one 12 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 2: thousand notifications of flu. And to put that into perspective, 13 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 2: when we have a well on average by this time 14 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 2: of the year, we would only have had three hundred 15 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 2: or four hundred or sour cases notified. So it's much 16 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 2: greater than we would normally get. It's a bit too 17 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 2: early to know whether this is just an early season 18 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 2: or whether it's it's a bigger season than usual. However, Wow, so. 19 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: A thousand cases in the Northern Territory since the first 20 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: of April. Correct, that does sound like a high number, Belinda. 21 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: When it comes to the severity of this flu, does 22 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: it largely depend on the individual or is this quite 23 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: quite a bad flu? 24 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 2: It's an interesting question, and it can be very difficult 25 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,759 Speaker 2: to answer so early in the season because normally by 26 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 2: the end of the year we're able to look at 27 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: all the numbers and have a more kind of a 28 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 2: better picture of it. But we have got an indication 29 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 2: that it is a little bit more severe in the 30 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: number of hospitalizations we're seeing. So we're seeing more hospitalizations 31 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 2: than we would normally see for this time of year. 32 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: But even in fact, for any peak peak flu season, 33 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 2: we're seeing more hospitalizations than we will normally see in 34 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 2: Central Australia. So currently the cases are split fifty to 35 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: fifty between Top End and Central Australia, and it's making 36 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 2: its way up up the highway and in Central Australia 37 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 2: of the cases that we have of them have been hospitalized. Now, 38 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 2: normally in a flu season, that might be quite normal 39 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 2: that you get a third hospitalized, but the pure numbers 40 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: we're seeing is greater than we normally would see. 41 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: And Belinda, I guess there is some you know, some 42 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: people sort of believe that we don't have it as 43 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: prevalently here in the territory in many ways because up 44 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,839 Speaker 1: here in the Top End we sort of don't see 45 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: a strong winter, we really just have that dry season. 46 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 3: But does the weather have much to. 47 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 2: Do with it? Well, it used to, so, I mean 48 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 2: we used to be able to predict flu seasons. It 49 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 2: used to be more sort of in the sort of 50 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: August September time quite regularly. But in the last couple 51 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: of years we've seen them in December, January, April. They're 52 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 2: sort of all over the place at the moment. Yeah. So, 53 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 2: but just returning to your questions around in answer before that, 54 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: you asked about, you know a little bit alluding to 55 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: who might be more more vulnerable to the flu. So, 56 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 2: we certainly know that there are groups of people that 57 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 2: are more likely to get sick if they get the flu, 58 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 2: particularly people who have had a serious sort of chronic, 59 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 2: long term medical condition, people who are elderly, so over 60 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 2: sixty five years of age, in particular, children, pregnant women, 61 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 2: and also aboriginal people. And that's because they're living in 62 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 2: circumstances where there's often overcrowding, so it spreads more easily, 63 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 2: so they're more likely to get it. And because of this, 64 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: because we know of these higher risk groups, we have 65 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 2: a program when we offer a free vaccine to those 66 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 2: high risk groups. However, anyone can We would encourage anyone 67 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: to get a flu vaccine, and you can get the 68 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: vaccines industry your GPS, or you can even go to 69 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,119 Speaker 2: the pharmacies now to get the vaccine. 70 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: That was going to be my next question, because we 71 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: did get a message from one of our listeners, Karen 72 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: and Catherine, and she said she went to the pharmacy 73 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: to book a flu shop but was told that she'd 74 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: need a script from her GP. Is that generally the case, 75 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: would you need a script from your GP? 76 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 2: I suppose they might be participating pharmacies and that they 77 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 2: would need to. You're credited to be able to do this, 78 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: so perhaps a Catherine pharmacy isn't a credit. 79 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: It Okay, that's something we can follow up either way. 80 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: So in terms of getting that flu vaccine, have we 81 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: do we know if we've had a high number of 82 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: people going in to get the flu vaccine. 83 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 2: Well, we have, but it's not We've had sort of 84 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: a normal amount. I would say it's not. So I 85 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 2: think people really need to get the message that the 86 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 2: flu is well and truly his people are sort of thinking, 87 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 2: oh it'll come in winter, it'll be later on. I've 88 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 2: got time but you know it is in Central Australia, 89 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 2: it's making its way up. It is in Darwin, but 90 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: it's obviously I think going to take off in the 91 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 2: next few weeks up there. So people need to get 92 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 2: their vaccine now. And remember that the vaccines don't work immediately. 93 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: They take a couple of weeks for the immune system 94 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: to really pick up in response to the vaccine. So 95 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 2: you know, people really needed to sort of start getting 96 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 2: the getting the vaccine if they particularly if they're there 97 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 2: they're in those high risk groups. 98 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 1: And Belinda, you did say that some of those as 99 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: high risk groups are obviously able to get the vaccine 100 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: for free. Are you able to just run us through 101 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:05,799 Speaker 1: those groups again? 102 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 2: Sure? So just the vaccine. Just one more comment on 103 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 2: the vaccine. The vaccine is free, as I said, for 104 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: these groups. It's safe. You know that we've had that 105 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 2: technology around for a very long time. We've been using 106 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 2: it for a long time and the current vaccine includes 107 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 2: the strains that are circulating that we've seen circulating, so 108 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: it should be effective as well. So the groups that 109 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 2: the vaccine is free for are children who are under 110 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 2: five years of age, between six months and five years 111 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: of age, the people who have chronic conditions, over six 112 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 2: months of age, people over sixty five years of age, 113 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 2: all pregnant women, because in fact, pregnant women can get 114 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 2: got quite sick with the flu and it's safe in pregnancy. 115 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 2: And then aboriginal people, all aboriginal people over six months 116 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 2: of age. 117 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,679 Speaker 1: And we have seen in and this is a question 118 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: we'll put to the Minister's office, but that we have 119 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: seen in other states that it's been free for for everybody. 120 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 1: I guess, you know, like I say, that's probably a 121 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: question more for the Minister's office than you, Belinda, But 122 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: I do wonder whether something like that might be what 123 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: we'll end up seeing around the territory if we've got 124 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: quite a high volume of people with the flu already. 125 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 2: Yes, I can't comment on that, but I think the 126 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: most important thing is that those people who do fall 127 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 2: into those high risk groups do get the flea vaccine. 128 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, and well, Blinda, I tell you what, it does 129 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: sound like it's going to be an interesting time for us. 130 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,799 Speaker 1: I know that we've all you know, we're still seeing 131 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: those COVID numbers around the territory as well. And I 132 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 1: do wonder whether some people have sort of thought all right, Well, 133 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: I'm vaccinated against COVID. Do I need to get the 134 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: flu vaccine as well? 135 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 3: But you do, yes. 136 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, unfortunately we don't have one vaccine to cover all. 137 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 2: I wish we did, but you know, on COVID, you know, 138 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: people have learned a lot about respiratory infections and how 139 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: they spread, so you know, don't forget flu is very 140 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: similar to COVID in the way that it spreads. So 141 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 2: people need to continue to wash their hands, cough into 142 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 2: the elbow, stay home if they're unwell, and even wear masks. 143 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 2: That's you know, it'll be all very effective ways of 144 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 2: protecting ourselves. 145 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 3: Well, Blinda, great to talk with you this morning. 146 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time and providing us a bit 147 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: further info, particularly around those numbers of how many people 148 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: have actually got the flu in the territory. 149 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 2: At the moment. That's a pleasure. 150 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 3: Thank you, We appreciate it.